Afternoon final: DEA seeks Ebonics translators

Welcome to Texas on the Potomac’s “afternoon final.” Every weekday, we will bring you three sets of news links, starting with a morning summary of top Texas headlines, national stories and Texas political blog posts. We’ll update at midday update with some of the top political stories that are making waves. And we’ll give you an “afternoon final” giving you something to talk about at the dinner table. As always, feel free to e-mail us with link suggestions.

1. The $15 billion levee system Congress approved following Hurricane Katrina is nearing completion, but experts say the upgrades &#151 while better than what was in place before &#151 are still inadequate. The New York Times>>>

2. In what is billed as bad news for the Democrats, experts are saying that the political climate for the 2010 midterms is the same as the climate in 1994, when Republicans took back control of both the House and Senate by a wide majority. The Washington Post>>>

3. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, were criticized for saying Republicans will take back control of the House in November, but did not offer insight into how they would control the body during an appearance on Meet the Press earlier this summer. Following the incident, Republicans came back with an answer. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., said the GOP would focus on oversight of the Obama administration, defund the agencies who would fund the health care law passed earlier this year, and push a “zero tolerance” ethics policy. Politico>>>

4. New Reuters poll found that the average American is still confused by the implications of the health care reform law passed earlier this year. The Hill>>>

5. The Drug Enforcement Agency is looking to hire a linguist who is fluent in ebonics to help translate conversations of suspects in narcotics investigations. The Smoking Gun>>>

6. Glenn Beck is planning to hold a tea party rally in D.C. next week titled “Restoring Honor.” Residents in D.C. are chuckling over a guide one tea party member posted about staying safe in the District while in town for the event. The guide advises tea party members to steer clear of the more diverse areas of the city, which they have branded as unsafe.